Snap-hook.



J. B; BAXTER.

" SNAP HOOK.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 24. 1912.

1,044,975, Patented Nov. 19, 1912.

COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH CO WASfilNflTON, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. BAXTER, OF WATERVLIET, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO COVERT MANUFAC- TURING COMPANY, OF, WATERVLIET, NEW YORK.

SNAP-HOOK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Application filed January 24, 1912. Serial No. 673,086.

VVatervliet, in the county of Albany and 'State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Snap- Hooks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to snap hooks and ms for its object the provision of certain improved details, as will hereinafter appear, tending to perfect a device of the character stated.

That may be styled the conventional snap now in use comprises a casting consisting of a shank having at one end a nose or hook and at its other end an attaching eye for a strap or the like, in combination with a spring tongue secured to the shank, usually in a pockettherein, at a point near the eye and engaging at its free end beneath the end portion of the nose. In such a construction the end of the nose is exposed above the tongue and afi'ords an obstruction beneathwhich the hair of the tail ormane may catch and dislodge the tongue inwardly away from the nose, thus openingthe snap and permitting escape of the ring'expected to be held thereby, or on the other hand by an edgewise motion of the tongue outwardly beyond the sides ofthe nose and thus freeing the tongue from the latter.

My present inventionembraces a construction wherein the objectionable characteristics of the conventional snap referred to are bination of an offset tongue and a recessed nose, together with other advantages, are accomplished in a single device simple in construction, conveniently and cheaply manufactured. 7

To the end stated, the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a snap hook having a nose, the extremity of which is furcat-ed longitudinally of the free portion of the nose, the terminals of the extensions or arms of the furoated portion depending inwardly toward the body or shank of the hook, anda spring tongue secured at one end to the body or shankand at itsfree end having an intermediate offset portion passing through the notch constituted by the furcation so that the extreme end of the tongue will underlie the nose, while the outer surface of the major portion of the tongue beyond the ofliset will be coincident or flush with the outer surface of the nose. The result is three advantages, to wit, first the elimination of external projections or crevices adapted to catch the hair of the animal, second the prevention of edgewise or lateral play ofthe tongue relative to the nose, and third, the enabling of a substantial inward movement or play of the tongue under abnormal engagement with exterior objects within the confines of the inward projections on the nose, without opening the snap for the escape of the ring or device fastened in place by the snap.

Another embodiment of the invention comprises a snap hook wherein the nose, as distinguished from the furcated idea above suggested, is provided with inwardly projecting side flanges adapted to cooperate with the offset tongue referred to.

The invention also includes a special con struction of tongue, and its combination with a snap body having a pocket, above referred to, wherein the tongue is bent or ofiset near its secured end so as to be projected at its free end in a plane in line with the top wall of the, pocket for purposes as will hereinafter appear.

The embodiments of the invention to which I have alluded are illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part hereof wherein,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the preferred snap, Fig. 2 is a plan view, Fig. 3 a longitudinal vertical sectional view of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the spring tongue and shank of the hook looking in the direction of the nose, and Figs. 15, 6 and 7 are respectively a side elevation, longitudinal section, and transverse section of the second form of snap made in keeping with the invention.

Referring morespecifically to the drawings wherein like reference characters desig nate corresponding parts in the several views, A represents the shank or body of the usual casting having at one end an eye or loop B for the reception of a strap or the like, and at its other end the nose or lip C flattened at its return bend or free portion which lies substantially parallel to the shank, represented at D, and "E is the spring Patented Nov. 19, 1912. i

tongue secured in any convenient or desirable manner at its inner end in the pocket 41 of the shank A adjoining the ring or loop B.

In Figs. 1 to at inclusive, the extremity of the nose or lip C is furcated as at F to constitute an end edge or wall G, and side extensions I-I constituting prolongations of the nose. The extensions are also carried inwardly, as at I, toward the shank A, a substantial distance to constitute a guideway therebetween at right angles to the plane of the nose or lip, as shown'at J. The end of the spring tongue is provided with an intermediate offset portion K adapted to pass through the furcated extremity of the nose adjoining the inner wall or edge referred to and between the extensions or arms, the extreme end of the tongue L beyond the offset, underlying and engaging the nose to close the snap.. It will be observed that the outer or exposed surfaces of the nose and tongue are substantially flush to afford a continuously smooth surface; also that the passing of the tongue through the furcation prevents lateral displacement of the tongue when in its normal position; and further by reason of the extended guidance afforded by the inward extensions of the arms for the offset portion of the tongue, the latter has quitea substantial inward play or movement, while at the same time maintaining a closed relation between the nose and tongue to prevent the escape of the ring or other device from the hook.

In Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive, as distinguished from the furcation F in the nose or lip C of the preceding figures, the nose or lip, in this instance, is flattened laterally as shown and provided with inwardly directed side flanges M adapted to receive therebetween the offset free end of the spring tongue. These flanges, and also the extensions I are preferably inclined slightly to assist in centering the end of the spring tongue in the recess under the end of the nose of the tongue, and they are also inclined upwardly and inwardly along their inner edges N to merge into the curved inner surface 0 of the hook, and rounded at their corners P to offer as little obstruction as possible to the ring or other device fastened within the snap.

In both embodiments of the invention herein set forth what might be styled the middle portion of the spring tongue is offset in an outward direction, as at Q, which it will be observed is at its point of emergence from the pocket at of the shank. The offset is for the purpose of elevating the free end of the spring tongue, so that its exposed surface is not only flush with the exposed surface of the nose, but also in line or flush with the outer surface of the top or upper wall a of the pocket, thus aflording a smooth and pleasing appearance, renby the oflset referred to, where theflspring leaves the pocket, keeps the tongue away from the sides of the snap adjoining the pocket when the spring is pressed inwardly, while preserving the proper plane or angularity of the spring with the hook, similar to the ordinary straight spring,-to give the spring in this instance the proper tension for successful and satisfactory service. v

In fact, by elevating the free portion of the tongue incident to the so-called middle ofi'set portion, the spring is brought more directly in approximately horizontal alinement with the nozzle or hook of the snapthan is the case when the spring projects straight out from beneath the top wall of the pocket in an inclined upward line to a point beneath the nose.

While I have herein disclosed specific embodiments of the invention, it will be understood by persons skilled in the art that the 3 invention is capable of still other embodi-' ments not necessary to be herein illustrated and described, but within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A snap hook of the character described comprising a shank portion provided with a nose furcated longitudinally at its extremity, the arms constituted by the furcation constituting prolongations of the nose and extending inwardly toward the shank portion, and a spring tongue secured at one end to the shank andat its opposite free end engaging beneath the nose, an intermediate portion of the tongue being offset to pass through the way constituted by the extensions on the nose so that the tongue is prevented from edgewise displacementand the exposed surfaces of the nose and tongue made substantially flush with each other, substantially as .described.

2. A snap hook of the character described comprising a shank portion provided with a nose furcated longitudinally at its extremity, the arms of the furcated portion constituting prolongations of the nose and ex-. tending inwardly toward the shank portion, a spring tongue securedlat one end to the shank engaging beneath the nose, said spring tongue passing through'the way constituted by the extensions on the nose so that the tongue is prevented from edgewise displacement, substantially as described.

3. A snap hook of the character described comprising a shank portion having a hollow inner end provided with a top wall and an outwardly opening mouth, the shank portion also having a nose at its outer end terminating in a pair of inwardly directed separated extensions opening toward the intermediate portion of the shank and constituting a guideway between said extensions, and an approximately U-shaped spring tongue having its bent connecting portion seated in and its inner end secured within the pocket at the inner end of the shank, the free portion of the tongue member emerging outwardly through the mouth of the pocket and engaging beneath the nose, an elongated intermediate part of said free portion of the tongue being oflset outwardly to provide the extreme end of the free portion of the tongue passing through the guideway between the extensions and bearing against the under surface of the nose.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN B. BAXTER.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. Hms'r, GEORGE H. LEE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

